Peace In The Middle East

December 14, 2009|William K. Langfan, Palm Beach

The "peace process" which is being proposed by the United States, the European Union, and many well-intentioned people, would result in Israel leaving the West Bank and East Jerusalem. In simple terms, Israel would return to her 1967 borders.

Hamas leaders declared in the 1988 charter that they will destroy Israel. Hamas leaders as recently as this year have stated that no deal with Israel will ever be acceptable to Hamas. Hamas controls a significant segment of Palestinian land. Their armed forces easily vanquished Abbas followers in a Gaza showdown. Can anyone present any satisfactory evidentiary facts that Hamas would be satisfied solely with the control of Gaza? Sooner or later there will either be a Hamas collision with Abbas Fatah or they will unite.

If there is a Hamas-Abbas government battle, it is quite probable that Hamas would win. Israel would then be faced with Hamas on borders that would enable Hamas to unleash thousands of missiles into the heart of Israel. If there is a unity government, Hamas would probably be the controlling party with Israel facing the same possible fate as above.

Thus, Israel cannot logically enter into any agreement with the Abbas government which would result in leaving strategic land unless and until the Hamas threat has been eliminated.